The Delinquent Trade Files

Yes,  the juvenile in me is a delinquent - the adult no better.  I continue my streak of misbehavior with months of unshared trade packages lurking in the closet.  This week we open the door just enough to allow a few into the dimly lit room.

Play at the Plate - Brian Snider

Brian has been a good trading partner.  Over the last few years he posted several times a week.  In 2016, Brian blogged somewhat sporadically with his last post occurring some five months ago.  If any of you know what may have happened to Brian, please comment or email.  I reached out to him via comment and email but have yet to hear anything.  Brian if you're out there, thank you!  We miss you!

Brian sent a #supertraders package:

Certainly there was room for more red foil on the 99 Fleer Warning Track Parallel!!

Addiction is Therapy - Adam Pankratz

I'd been concerned for Adam because several months had passed without a post from him.  I'm happy to see he's still blogging.  I received two packages from him over these past months.   The first contained a 2015 GQ Verlander mini relic and Heritage lots from 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2011.  All were needed for my Tiger team sets!  The second package included Fleer Sticker fun and a Victor Martinez relic!

Adam, thanks for the great selection of cards - and for your patience!  I truly appreciate your generosity!

Mark Hoyle - infamous non-blogger

I received my first ever mailer from Mark!  His mo has been the pwe.   The package was filled with vintage and oddity!  Take a look at those 72 babies! One of my fave all-time designs!  For the odd, he sent two cards from 1968 Atlantic Gas.  There is a 92 Fleer sighting here as well.  This set toys with me.  When I began collecting in 1993, my friend had stacks of these all over her house. Literally.  I'd never seen such disorganization!  I thought these were some of the ugliest cards ever produced. When Fleer fell out of the mailer, I had a little touch of that nostalgic feeling a warm memory can bring.  I was also running a low fever at the time so perhaps it had nothing to do with 92 Fleer.  None the less, I was falling in love with the hobby back then.  92 Fleer was a big part of those days!

Mark, thanks for the cards!  This package was all over the park - super variety!!!

During my absence, I avoided email and wished later that I'd not done so.  If I'm ever going to be away for any length of time, this information will be posted!  Of course, an early demise could prevent me from sharing this info with you directly but arrangements have been made with a good friend to post on my behalf.    Those other arrangements - well - I keep putting them off.  On a back-burner, if you will.

THE NO-TRADE CLAUSE

Knock, Knock.  Who’s there?  Anyone?

Many months have passed since last posting. I never thought my absence would be so extended.  I can't begin to say how much I've missed you guys!   I haven’t read more than a handful of posts since March or opened my email in almost as long.  Initially, work kept me from being here which wasn't unusual for March and April but soon summer was filled with overtime right into the fall and holidays.  During this time, trade packages kept coming.  I had a stack of at least 20 by the end of August.  This just added to my shame and frankly I felt quite intimidated by the sheer amount of cards multiplying like hares. September and October are the busiest months of the year at my office. I had high hopes for November and December but then repeated rounds of illness dashed those plans.

I had to make choices this year with the free time available so spent a good part of it at the new ballpark in my area - Jimmy John's Field.  I'd purchased a season ticket plan the first part of 2016 before realizing work would steal some of my fun.   Having only spent the previous summer here, I hadn't had the opportunity to explore my new world.  That time was for moving, unpacking, improvements and organization.   I'd like to tell you organization was accomplished.  I’d really like to.

Another long day at the office.

I have a room designated for quiet space with my books, desk and a closet for my card collection. This is the only room that has remained unfinished.  In fact, I have several monster boxes plus additional packed boxes of unsorted cards in another room.  Since throwing myself headlong into collecting again, I've managed to accumulate "five-digit" thousands of cards - probably an underestimate.  My collection had always been meticulously sorted.

Of these, the only cards sorted have been Tigers received in our many trades.  None of my player collections and sets are together. More shame.  I haven't had the time to truly enjoy the cards. There is no joy to be found when one has no idea what's owned or needed.

                                                                   

CARD SHAMING:
No idea what's
in these boxes.  All accumulated since 2012.  

My goal is to sort all of these cards.  It will probably take most of the year.  Of course, new releases are on the horizon.  I've committed to Flagship Jumbos and a couple boxes of GQ.  More sorting.  There's a card show this weekend.  Such a rare opportunity - should I go?  What's a few more unsorted cards at this point??  

Over the past weekend I was able to finish long overdue trade packages. I've been collecting these cards since spring.  I felt a weight of guilt lift from my shoulders when this project was completed. For those of you who have been patiently awaiting a return package, thank you.  

MLB has given us the no-trade clause which allows players to block trades to specific teams.  Ten years of service with five consecutive years on the same team allow a player to veto any trade.   I want to continue our trade relationships but know that I simply can't right now.  To read the many worthy blogs here, to share cards as I am reacquainted with my collection -  something else must go to make time for these moments.   You have all been so generous.  It is a hard thing to ask but please, hold off on sending anything for now.  Your trade packages deserve to be shared and I can't promise the time for doing so.  This is my no-trade clause.   With this in mind, I regretfully submit my resignation from Supertraders.  It isn't right to hold a spot in this ELITE group right now.  I am honored to have been included.  

To those of you who sent cards, I will share these over the next few posts.  There were too many cards for scanning once I began to attack the piles.  I grouped these by sender and relied on my phone camera.  Not my usual method but the only one which allows me to thank each of you before another year slips by. 

Without doubt, during the nine months spent away from here I’ve missed out on your life events, great cards and new bloggers.  I plan to catch up on my reading and meet a few new folks here.  I am so looking forward to it!  

SUPERTRADERS: 2015 Bowman Chrome pack break

Has anyone noticed I seem to disappear for a bit in March, April, September and October?  Perhaps not, but I do tend to be away from the computer.  This is my busy season  at the office.  Right now, it's the time of year when nearly all of our clients file their extensions.  These clients tend to believe they are the only ones extending. They will also wait until the last possible moment to bring their tax info to the office, usually a week before the 15th of September or October.  Now, on with the important matters at hand...

 

I wanted to open a few packs of more recent product to share among the newly formed #supertraders group.  I haven't purchased Bowman Chrome since the 90s, back in my prospecting days.  It's a great hobby which allows for prospectors, vintage enthusiasts, team and player collectors.  I dropped by my LCS for Topps Spring Fling packs - a hideous design this year - and picked up a handful of packs from a freshly broken Chrome box.  Dave opened a new one at my request.  We have seven packs with four cards per pack.   With perfect collation, we'd all get at least one card. It's a Topps product. Need I say more?   Take a Heritage break - let's see how we did!

PACK ONE:

 Astro JD Davis;  Yank Andrew Miller;  Southsider Samardzija;  Pirate Alen Hanson, all base cards.

PACK TWO:

Bowman Scout Update insert refractor Ranger Nick Williams; Rockies Antonio Senzatela, Indian Bobby Bradley, Ranger Feliz.   Nothing to holler about.


 PACK THREE:

A Miggy for me;  Rocky Cargo; Dodger Grant Holmes; an auto RC of A's Kendall Graveman.  I'd keep this one for myself had I not promised these to the Supertrader team!  I like his name.  Nice pull for a seven pack pick from a full box.  Congrats Fuji!

 PACK FOUR:

Reds Michael Lorenzen rc; Oriole Chris Tillman; Jaybird Jeff Hoffman; Met Brandon Nimmo - all base cards.


PACK FIVE:

 Cubbie Stephen Bruno; Bowman Scout Update insert refractor Rocky Raimel Tapia;  Athletic Franklin Barreto;  Philly Cole Hamels.  Too much excitement for you?  Stop now.


 PACK SIX:

 Giant Daniel Carbonell; Cardinal Matt Adams;  gorgeous blue refractor parallel #/150 for Jeff - Southsider Tyler Danish; Dbacks David Freese.

We are down to the last pack...

 PACK SEVEN:

Met Syndergaard rc;  MARLIN Isael Soto auto - seriously? ; Nats Denard Span;  Cards Rowan Wick. Well don't that beat all? A Marlin? Soto does have a very neat signature.  I'm a bit surprised there is no one out there willing to admit being a Marlin fan.  They'd be instantly buried in cardboard.  Please, come forward dear friend.  We will not mock or embarrass you.  We need  you! 

 

Out of seven packs, we pulled two autos and a nice refractor/100. Nothing fancy but these are good cards to start the envelope stuffing.  We will have a box break in the near future.  My budget allows for older material, 1994-2008 - somewhere in there. I already picked up a box.  We'll be opening product from a company that's not around anymore, in any form that I am aware of.  I hope to begin next week, over a few days. 

 

Spring is here, bats are crackin' and Opening Day is upon us!  Speaking of Opening Day... who among you will be throwing money at Topps Opening Day this year?  Yeah, I probably will too.

 

PWEs BIG ADVENTURE

I know you are, but what am I?  Rhetorically speaking.  Four PWEs made their way through the big adventure that is the postal service.  Their trip ended safely within the confines of my roadside mail depository.  It's amazing the number of cards which fit neatly inside the sealed borders of a letter/legal sized envelope.

Brian  HSCA and #supertrader, sent this group of cardboard via pwe:

 Great shot of Tettleton in catcher's gear!

 The late Tony Phillips.

These beauties from 2003 Gallery, which sent me searching for a box to bust!

All nine of the cards arrived unscathed. Brian also sent a padded mailer just a couple weeks prior to the pwe.  Here's what it looked like upon arrival:

stomped  (stamped?)

waving hello

Because Brian knows proper card packaging, the cards inside were unharmed.  I'm not sure how they weren't lost from the mailer.  It had a rather large hole on the backside. Here's a sampling of the goodness found within:

Kaline in Blue, a 2013 Topps reprint

1993 Kraft Singles Fielder, whereas a block of cheese would seem more fitting.

Four colorful cards.  Fryman is from a special set issued in 94 by Pinnacle - The Naturals

2011 Lineage 75 mini-relic and lonely Clete Thomas, 2008 Ballpark Collection.

Brian - thanks for your generosity!  You are definitely a #supertrader, which I already knew.  ;) 



Bubblegummer Jeff Jones sent a nice thank you via PWE in return for some set help:

Daniel Norris became a Tiger via trade late last year.  Hope to see him blossom in Detroit!

2002 Upper Deck: great shot, though the runner was likely safe.  Love dirty uniforms!

Parallels: 2013 Topps camo #/99 !  and a chunky 2006 Bowman gold

Foodies!  89 Cap'N Crunch and 88 Nestle Chocolate boy bar

Listen to the roar!

Thanks to Wish They Still Came with Bubblegum!

A PWE thanks to #supertrader and 2x3 Heroes Jeff Wilk for these sports schedules.  He offered them up on his blog recently.  I couldn't say no to the great designs.  In the current age of political correctness, one of these mascots may become extinct.  If you guessed the jailbird in prison stripes, you could be right!  Seriously though, the Blackhawks schedule is a thing of beauty. 

Around of applause also goes out to a successful PWE from Gavin and Baseball Card Breakdancedown.  I was expecting two of these cards, but Gavin made sure to get his money's worth from a Forever stamp. 

 

Somebody's ready for baseball!

 

 

Ken Caminiti for the PC!

Face off between two of my favorite young catchers!

LOU LOU!

The two cards I was expecting are originals.  Not necessarily 1/1 but darn close!  The few that exist are special creations and aged differently.  Gavin is a talent in demand.  He displayed his latest creations on a recent post.  I found myself asking for one in particular. Look at these cards! 

The mini is shinier, appearing fresh from the pack.  The beauty on the right is breathtaking!  It could be an original 30s Goudeys!  The paper is dense and textured.  It feels old! Corners are rounded and the card is slightly dirty and faded.

The backs are true to original designs.  The font style and color give these cards a look of authenticity.  And they are authentic, to Baseball Card Breakdown!  Thank you thank you!  I've begun a collection of Gavins and hope to add many more!

 

PWEs - a great way to send a dozen or so cards for less than a dollar.  I plan to take advantage of this shipping method.  I can get more cards in the mail quickly, to my old trading friends and new #supertrading partners. 

 

 

 

A Random Giant - contest results

A note of thanks to those of you who took the time to read Ump Day and welcome my friend to the blog world!  Your kind words were an encouragement to her!  I hope she joins us on another Wednesday, maybe even this week.

Last week I offered a book to this blog's interested readers.



I was elated to find six interested persons,  since the book would go to the fifth person on the list, after five times in the Randomizer. Let's take a look at the results:

ARPSMITH is making room on his shelves for the Piazza book.  ARP is one of the biggest Giants fans out there.  He entered a contest for a former Dodgers' autobiography saying he'd like to give it a read.  ARPSMITH, congrats and I hope you enjoy the book!

A good many of us are enjoying the latest of Heritage and Donruss.  I busted my own boxes with much ado about nothing.  NO auto from Heritage, one pitcher auto and two pitcher relics from Donruss.  I do have a few 2015 packs of Bowman Chrome to bust later in the week for the #supertraders group.  By a few, I mean seven.   Looking forward to sharing these with you then.  Have a good week all!

SUPER TRADING MADNESS BEGINS and a book giveaway

Insanity has a face.  It's not the look of an axe wielding maniac or the Mad Hatter. 

It's this

Founding Father of Super Traders, Wes Moore is a silent warrior.  A bomber.  The victims are often intimidated into surrender.  Wes simply can't be outdone.  I already know this.  After receiving two packages from him on the same day, I sensed warning shots had been fired and threw in the white flag almost immediately via email, begging really.  Wes is known throughout bloggerland as the most generous of traders.  The cards below are only a small sampling.

In silver sharpie: #bombed

1987 Fleer sticker fun

LEAF: 1992 gold and 1988 Donrussy
 

Morris'd

    Trammelled, Fahey'd and Herndon'd.

95Pinnacle Artist Proofs and two shiny parallels from Score

More Tigers

and more Tigers featuring Kuenn with chaw-jaw

Here's an early chunky card #/700, a number once found rare. 2001 Playoff. 

Wes began the Supertrading initiative with a blast, breaking a box of 2013 Museum to share among the newly founded trading group.  Did I mention his generosity?  Many sweet cards were pulled.  I couldn't believe my eyes and ears when Wes pulled a Tiger hit.  I replayed this portion of the video a couple of times before grasping this card was really mine.

Doesn't get much better! 

 

Wes sent a package way back in May which I've yet to repay him for.  I had initially gathered a few cards for him when his collection went in a new direction.  I put these aside and have been searching for something else to thank him for his generosities.  Braves are a-gathering for you Wes.  Thanks much for your kindness and patience!  Check out his blog here!

 

I'd like to take a moment to re-introduce a friend of mine, once referred to as The Ump in a very early post.  Cheryl  is an avid baseball card collector but at this time, does not blog.  She does read many of the blogs found here in our special world.  The Ump has a creative streak with many of her Facebook posts shared at a high rate, and once interviewed Mark Fidrych for her high school paper.   I offered her an opportunity to post on this blog.  Cheryl will be featured on occasional Wednesdays known as UMP DAY.  Who knows?  Maybe she will one day take over  the blog world.  But for now, please welcome her to the blog-o-sphere and check out UMP DAYS, right here on Cracked Bat.

 

We've reached the giveaway portion of this post. Up for grabs is my personal copy of LONG SHOT - Mike Piazza.  Read once, from a smoke and pet hair free environment with absolutely NO mustard stains.  If you enjoy reading baseball history and biographies, or just a plain ole Dodgers fan perhaps you'll enjoy this book.  As a new member of the Hall, we know Piazza had an excellent career.  He has a few character flaws as well - who doesn't?  I enjoyed the book but my opinion of Piazza was unchanged in the end.  I still view him as pampered and whiny.  Despite this, he remains one of my favorite modern era players.

If you want a chance to own this book, comment below and mention so.  No international shipping, sorry BFE.  The list will be randomized five times with the fifth name our winner, in honor of Mike's five game appearances with the Florida Marlins.  Where are you Marlins' blogger??? WHERE???  The contest will close at 8pm Friday evening.

 

Good luck and thanks for reading!